Johan m



' (No Model.)

J.M. ANDBRSBN. TROLLEY WIRE SWITCH.

Patented Aug. 14, 1894.

III

WITNESSES gym 1% INVENTEJR.

THE Nmws PETERS coy. vnomumm WASHINGTON, o. c.

UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHAN M. ANDERSEN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOALBERT ANDERSON, OF SAME PLACE.

TRCLLEY-Wl RE SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 524,672, dated August14, 1894.

Application filed April 26, 1894.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be itknown that I, J OHAN M. ANDERSEN, residing in Boston, in thecounty of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented anImprovement in Supports for Electric Conductors, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to a novel support for electrical conductors orwires, and is herein shown as embodied in a frog, switch or turnout, forthe trolley wire of the overhead system of electric railways.

In accordance with this invention, the trolley wire support is providedwith a groove, way or channel having upright walls between which arepivotally supported movable cams or looking dogs constructed so as to beoperated by tension or longitudinalstrain or movement of the trolleywire to firmly retain the said wire in its groove or channel. Thetrolley line support when embodied in a frog, switch or turn-out isprovided with substantially fiat side flanges, which in the completedfrog approximate the form of a plate, the said flanges extendinglaterally from the side walls of the channel or groove in which thetrolley wire is laid, the said-plate or side flanges being shorter thanthe side walls of the channel or groove, so that the said side wallsextend or project beyond the said plate.

The groove or channel in which the trolley wire is laid is inclineddownwardly at its opposite ends, and the metal forming the bottom of thesaid channel or groove at its ends is thickened, so as to project belowthe plate or side flanges at or near the ends of the same, and to formguiding surfaces for the trolley wheel, the bottom portion of the saidgroove or way being thickened from the opposite end toward the center ofthe groove, but to such a distance as will leave a space or openingbetween the guiding surfaces sufficiently large to permit the trolleywheel to be moved out of line with the guiding surfaces.

The thickened portions of the bottom of the groove or channel formingthe guiding surfaces referred to, are made of such depth as to lie in asubstantially straight line or plane with the outer ends of the uprightwalls, so

Serial No. 609,146- (No model.)

that when the trolley Wire is clamped to its support, the ends of thewire projecting from the opposite ends of the support, will be in asubstantially straight line or plane with the under side of thethickened portions of the channel or groove in which the wire is laid.The side flanges or plate extended from the upright walls are preferablyupwardly inolined at its opposite ends, and the said plate is attachedto the upright walls at such a distance above the bottom of thethickened portions of the groove or channel, that the trolley wheel onpassing from the trolley wire to the thickened lower portion or guidingsurface will make contact with the under side of the plate or sideflanges before leaving the said guiding surface. This feature is ofspecial importance in a frog, switch or turnout, as this constructionavoids all sparking and the formation of arcs by the trolley wheeljumping from one contact or guiding surface to another.

The laterally extended plate or flange referred to, is provided 011 itsopposite sides with a downwardly extended flange suitably curved toenable the trolley wheel to be guided from one trolley wire to another.The branch trolley wire is clamped in a groove or channel having itsside walls integral with the laterallyextended plate orflauge, and forthe best results, one of the said side walls is integral with a sidewall of the main groove or channel. The laterally extended plate orsurface may be provided with suitable ears by which the trolley linesupport may be sustained in position by suitable span or other wires.

The side Walls of the groove or channel for the main trolley wire aremade higher at or aboutthe longitudinal center of the frog and taper tonear the opposite ends of the said frog, so as to obtain an increasedamount of metal at the central portion of the frog, whereby the latteris greatly strengthened, and danger of buckling or bending under severestrain is avoided. The side walls of the main groove or channel and alsoof the branch groove or channel may and preferably will be thickened atportions and provided with screw threads on the interior of thethickened portion, to form threaded sockets nel A is considerably higherthan the ends and these thickened portions extend toward into which maybe extended threaded shanks or bolts, which for the best results, mayact upon a clamping piece laid in the channel or groove above thetrolley wire, so that the said trolley wire may be additionally securedto its support.

These and other features of this invent-ion will be pointed out in theclaims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a frog or switch embodying thisinvention; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the frog or switch shown in Fig.1, a portion of the trolley wheel being represented by dotted lines;Fig. 3, an under side View of the frog or switch shown in Fig. 1; Fig.4, a longitudinal section through the main trolley channel or groove,the section being taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 1, the looking dogs orclamps and the trolley wire being shown in elevation, and Fig. 5, atransverse section on the line 55, Fig. 1 looking toward the right thebolt in the branch groove being shown in elevation.

Referring to Fig. .1, A represents the main trolley wire, which, inaccordance with this invention, is laid in a channel or groove A formedby side walls a at having integral with them laterally extended flangesa approximating in the completed support the form of a plate, the saidflanges being extended from the side walls substantially on a level withthe bottom of the central portion of the channel or groove A asrepresented in Fig. 5..

The laterally extended plate a is made shorter than the side walls a a,so that the ends of the side walls project a considerable distancebeyond the ends of the laterally extended plate, and the channel orgroove A between the side walls a a, is downwardly inclined at itsopposite ends as at a (see Fig. 5), .and the said walls at their endsare open at the bottom as at a and are provided with locking dogs orcams a pivoted between the side walls and preferably having an elongatedunder surface a which co-operates with the inclined bottom a of thechannel or groove A in such manner that the trolley wire A, when drawnupon longitudinally, exerts an upward force upon one end of the dog orcam,

which upward force acts to turn the cam or dog so as to force itsopposite end more firmly into engagement with the trolley wire, andthereby more firmly press the trolley wire against the inclined portiona of its groove or channel, so that longitudinal movement of the trolleywire A automatically acts to clamp the said wire to its support.

The central portion of the groove or chant of the said groove, and inorder that the trolley wheel may pass under the frog in asubstantiallystraight path, the bottom of the groove or channel A is made thickerfrom the opposite ends of the said groove toward the central portion ofthe same, as at a a each other beneath the laterally extended plate abut are separated as at 0. (see Fig. 3) a sufficient distance to permitof the direction of movement of the trolley wheel to be changed. Thesethickened portions form guiding surfaces, which are in substantially thesame straight line or plane with the bottom of the projecting side wallsa a and with the under side of the trolley wireA extended from betweenthe said side walls.

The laterally projecting plate a is upwardly inclined at its ends as ata 0?, so that its outer ends will be located above the lower edge of thethickened portion of the groove or channel A, a greater distance thanthe depth of the flange b on the trolley wheel I), the central portionof the laterally extended plate being a less distance above the bottomof the thickened portion a a of the groove or channel A, so that theflange b of the" trolley wheel on its passage under the frog or switch,will make contact with the under surface of the laterally projectingplate a before i it leaves the thickened portion of the said channel orgroove. By this construction, it

will be seen that the trolley wheel has a ine tallic connection with thetrolley wire during its passage under the frog orswitch, and that thereis no chance for the circuit to be interrupted, consequently avoidingsparking produced by the trolley wire jumping fromone portion of theswitch to another, or from passing from one guiding surface'to another.The switch or frog is also. provided with a groove or channel A for thereception of a branch trolley wire A, the said groove or channel havingside walls I) b extended at an angle to the side walls a a, of the mainchannel or groove, the said walls 12 19* being provided with a movablecam or dog b pivoted between them similar to the cams or dogs a andco-operating with the downwardly extended end portion of the groove orchannel A The branch side wall 11 is preferably extended and castintegral with the side wall a of the main groove or channel tostrengthen the frog at its center. The bottom of the branch groove orchannel A is thickened so as to project below the laterally extendedplate and form the thickened portion or guiding surface 11 which lies atan angle to the thickened portions or guiding surfaces c a of the maingroove or channel, but in substantially the same horizontal plane.

The laterally extended plate a is provided at its opposite sides withdownwardly extended flanges c c, which are curved to properly guide thetrolley wheel on its passage beneath the switch or frog, the said platein the present instance, being represented as provided with lugs or ears(1 by which the said frog or switch may be supported in proper positionby means of thespan or other wires (1.

The side walls a a of the main groove or channel are, for thebest'results, thickened or made of greater height at substantially thelongitudinal center of the frog or switch as at d (see Fig. 2), andtaper downwardly to near their opposite ends, so that an increasedamount of metal is provided above the laterally extended plate a at thecentral portion of the frog, whereby the latter is greatly strengthenedat its center, so as to resist the tendency to buckle or break byexcessive strain placed upon the trolley-wire at the opposite ends ofthe frog. The upright walls a a of the main groove or channel, and theside walls b b of the branch groove or channel may and preferably willbe provided with thickened portions (1 (Z having sdrew threads on theirinterior surface to form threaded sockets and be engaged by threadedbolts d cl, which, for the best results,engage clamping pieces 01 d bywhich the trolley wires A A may be additionally secured in theirrespective grooves or channels. The clampin g pieces (1 (Z arepreferably provided with transverse upright portions or lugs d", whichact to prevent the said clamping pieces turning edgewise when droppedinto their re-' spective grooves, thereby enabling the said clampingpieces to be more quickly placed in proper position.

I claima 1. In a support for electric conductors, the combination withside walls forming a groove, channel or way for the reception of theelectric conductor and provided on their inner sides with screw threadsco-operating to form a threaded socket for the reception of a threadedclamping bolt, between the said side walls of the said threaded clampingbolt inserted into its socket to secure the electric conductor in thesaid groove, substantially as described.

2. In a support for electric conductors, the combination with side wallsforminga groove, channel or way forthe reception of the electricconductor and provided on their inner sides with screw threadsco-operating to form a threaded socket for the reception of a screwthreaded clamping bolt, of the said clamping bolt to secure the electricconductor in the said groove, and a clamping bar fitted into said grooveand adapted to be engaged within the groove by the said clamping bolt toengage the clamping bar with the electric conductor, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a support for electric conductors, the combination with sidewallsforming a groove, channel or way for the reception of the electricconductor, of a locking dog or cam supported in said groove between thesaid side walls, and a clamping bolt extended into a threaded socket inthe side walls to operate, substantially as described.

4. In a support for electric conductors, the combination with side wallsforming a groove, channel or way for the reception of the electricconductor, the bottom of the said groove or way being downwardlyinclined at one end, of a locking dog or cam secured to the said sidewalls in said groove or way substantially above the lower end of thedownwardly inclined bottom of the said groove, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a support for electric conductors, the combination with side wallsforming a continuous groove, channel or way for the reception of theelectric conductor, the bottom of the said groove or way beingdownwardly inclined at its opposite ends and provided with thickenedportions extending from the outer end of the downwardly inclined portionof the said bottom toward the central portion of the groove or way,lateral flanges extended from the said sides below the top thereof andmeans to secure the electric conductor in said groove or way,substantially as described.

6. In a support for electric conductors, the combination with side wallsforming a continuous groove, channel or way for the reception of theelectric conductor, the bottom of the said groove or way beingdownwardly inclined at its opposite ends and provided with thickenedportions extended from the outer.

ends of the downwardly inclined portions of the groove or way toward thecentral portion of the groove or way to form separated guidin g surfacesin substantially the same straight line or plane, and means to securethe electric conductor in said groove or way, substantially asdescribed. a

7. In a support for electric conductors, the combination with side wallsforming a groove, channel or way for the reception of the electricconductor, the bottom of the said groove or way being downwardlyinclined at its 0pposite ends and provided with thickened portionsextended from the outer ends of the downwardly inclined portions of thegroove or way toward the central portion of the groove or way to formseparated guiding surfaces in substantially the same straight line orplane, laterally extended flanges of less length than the said. sidewalls and provided with upwardly curved ends, and means to secure theelectric conductor in the said groove or channel, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a support for electric conductors, the combination with side wallsforming a groove, channel or way for the reception of the electricconductor, the bottom of the said groove or way being downwardlyinclined at its opposite ends and provided with thickened portionsextended from the outer ends of the downwardly inclined portions of thegroove or way toward the central portion of the groove or Way to formseparated guiding surfaces in substantially the same straight line orplane, branch side walls forming a groove or way for a branch conductorand having its bottom downwardly inclined, side flanges laterallyextended from the said side walls substantially on a level with thecentral portion of the groove or way for the main conductor, and of lesslength than the side walls of the main groove or way and provided withup wardly curved ends, and means to secure the said conductors in theirrespective grooves or ways, substantially as described.

IIO

9. In a support for electric conductors, the combination with side wallsa a forming a groove or way for the reception of the main conductor, andside walls 12 D forming a groove or way for the reception of a branchconductor, both of said grooves or ways being inclined downwardly asdescribed and having thickened bottom portions to form guiding surfaceslying in substantially the same straight line or plane, and laterallyextended flanges integral with the said side walls and provided withupwardly curved ends, substantially as described.

10. In a'support for electric conductors, the combination with sidewalls forming a groove, channel or way for the reception of the electricconductor and made thicker or of a greater height at or near the centerof the support to strengthen the said side walls,

downwardly inclined bottom portions of the.

channel or way for the reception of the electric conductor, the bottomof the said groove or way being downwardly inclined at its opposite endsand provided with thickened por tions extended from the outer ends ofthe downwardly inclined portions of the groove or way toward the centralportion of the groove or way to form separated guiding surfaces insubstantially the same straight line or plane, branch side walls forminga groove or way for a branch conductor and having its bottom downwardlyinclined, one of the branch walls being attached to one of the sidewalls of the main groove or channel, side flanges laterally extendedfrom the said side walls below the top thereof substantially on a levelwith the central portion of the groove or way for the main conductor,and of less length than the side walls of the main groove or way,and-means to secure the said conductors in their respective grooves orways, substantially has described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses. 1

JOHAN M. ANDERSEN. Witnesses:

J AS. H. CHURCHILL, J. MURPHY.

